Skinny fat. Warning just opinion.

So here is my take. I was 258 lbs 4 years ago. I was a heavy kid and most of my adult life. 4 years ago after going to vacation with a friend I had a hard time keeping up and was out of breathe just walking. I also had a hard time fitting in the airplane seat. My Dr had also told me my blood pressure was high, cholesterol levels were high and my bmi had me at morbidly obese. I decided after all those embarrasing moments on vacation to lose weight. I started going to the gym and doing cardio and weightlifting. I lost 65 lbs that year. I was making sure to strength train and do cardio 4 days a week. I hit my goal! I ended with what people these days call skinny fat. Guess what? I didnt care. Why ? Because my past 4 physicals have all been great. Every single one. My dr. Was so proud she actually did not charge for my visit! Imagine that! So Yeah i dont look like a male model but guess what? I rather be skinny fat than fat fat. I also rather be healthy and mobile than 258 on my way to heart disease. End opinion.
«13

Replies

  • Shellyyy7928
    Shellyyy7928 Posts: 78 Member
    Agreed. I have hated my body since I was 12. I just want to wear actual clothes and not just big tents marketed as clothes. Truthfully I could care less what I looked like naked. I just want to not be the biggest person when I walk into a room.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    There is absolutely nothing wrong with what you did. You're a huge success. Don't let anyone put you down. Just realize that others may have different goals is all. No matter what your ideal physique is, someone is not going to like it. Just part of it.

    Congrats on your success and great health! :smile:

    P.S. judging by your pic, I would not put you in the "skinny fat" category.
  • whoiskat23
    whoiskat23 Posts: 103 Member
    I thought skinny-fat applied to those who lost weight and did not work out as they were doing so? If that's your arm in your avatar, I don't think it applies to you. :laugh:
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    "I was making sure to strength train and do cardio 4 days a week. I hit my goal! I ended with what people these days call skinny fat."

    what is your definition of skinny fat?

    "I do not think it means what you think it means." :)
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    Great job! I think skinny fat is tossed around here way too much. I couldn't care less if I ever have visible abs, and I'm active enlighten that my muscles aren't going to waste away as I lose.
  • cloud2011
    cloud2011 Posts: 898 Member
    Congratulations on your success. Whatever works, it's all good. And, you don't look skinny fat as another poster pointed out.
    Maybe it's time to let go of the "fat" when describing yourself (?)
  • watboy
    watboy Posts: 380 Member
    Yeah that's my arm pucture lol. About all that is really defined besides my chest a little bit. Thank you all for the kind words.
    I thought skinny-fat applied to those who lost weight and did not work out as they were doing so? If that's your arm in your avatar, I don't think it applies to you. :laugh:
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    So here is my take. I was 258 lbs 4 years ago. I was a heavy kid and most of my adult life. 4 years ago after going to vacation with a friend I had a hard time keeping up and was out of breathe just walking. I also had a hard time fitting in the airplane seat. My Dr had also told me my blood pressure was high, cholesterol levels were high and my bmi had me at morbidly obese. I decided after all those embarrasing moments on vacation to lose weight. I started going to the gym and doing cardio and weightlifting. I lost 65 lbs that year. I was making sure to strength train and do cardio 4 days a week. I hit my goal! I ended with what people these days call skinny fat. Guess what? I didnt care. Why ? Because my past 4 physicals have all been great. Every single one. My dr. Was so proud she actually did not charge for my visit! Imagine that! So Yeah i dont look like a male model but guess what? I rather be skinny fat than fat fat. I also rather be healthy and mobile than 258 on my way to heart disease. End opinion.

    really? what is your bodyfat %
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Too many people who have no clue what skinny fat really is claim to be or want to be skinny fat.

    If you really were skinny fat, your doctor wouldn't be congratulating you and you wouldn't be fit and healthy.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Yeah that's my arm pucture lol. About all that us really defined besides my chest a little bit. Thank you all for the kind words.
    I thought skinny-fat applied to those who lost weight and did not work out as they were doing so? If that's your arm in your avatar, I don't think it applies to you. :laugh:

    Yeah, you're definitely not skinny fat.
  • Taylerr88
    Taylerr88 Posts: 320 Member
    "I was making sure to strength train and do cardio 4 days a week. I hit my goal! I ended with what people these days call skinny fat."

    what is your definition of skinny fat?

    "I do not think it means what you think it means." :)

    10-percent-body-fat-male-pictures1.jpg
  • farmgirlsuz
    farmgirlsuz Posts: 351 Member
    You worked out. How is that skinny fat?
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Skinny fat is the best kind of fat.
  • Leesa22
    Leesa22 Posts: 73 Member
    You are healthy for you, that is FANTASTIC!
  • potluck965
    potluck965 Posts: 529 Member
    I'm not sure, like others, why you would classify that kind of result as "skinny fat". Strength training kind of precludes that.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    10-percent-body-fat-male-pictures1.jpg

    At 10% body fat, that skinny dude isn't skinny fat. He's just skinny. No one is any kind of fat at 10%.

    To really define skinny fat, you'd need to show two men who weigh the same, and are both in a healthy weight for their height , but one has 10%BF and the other has 30% BF. One would look like that muscle-bound dude, and the other would look like the marshmallow fluff. But they'd be the same weight.
  • theoriginaljayne
    theoriginaljayne Posts: 559 Member
    Too many people who have no clue what skinny fat really is claim to be or want to be skinny fat.

    If you really were skinny fat, your doctor wouldn't be congratulating you and you wouldn't be fit and healthy.

    Exactly. "Skinny fat" means that although you have a normal weight, your body fat percentage is typical of an overweight/obese person. Although you might look slim, your internal organs would tell a different story. If your physicals are all great – you're not skinny fat.
  • sc1572
    sc1572 Posts: 2,309 Member
    Congrats!
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,421 Member
    Great job, watboy!
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Skinny-Fat.jpg

    Just for reference.

    Again, congrats OP. You've made incredible progress.
  • delilah47
    delilah47 Posts: 1,658
    I envy you for your success! But... You've been taking the forums too seriously. If you are exercising and eating healthy, you are not skinny fat. Just because you don't have muscle definition per the poster-boy, weight lifting, protein sucking, gym-rat standards, does not mean you are skinny-fat. Keep up the good work and don't let anyone bring you down.
  • 2fit4fat
    2fit4fat Posts: 559 Member
    10-percent-body-fat-male-pictures1.jpg

    At 10% body fat, that skinny dude isn't skinny fat. He's just skinny. No one is any kind of fat at 10%.

    To really define skinny fat, you'd need to show two men who weigh the same, and are both in a healthy weight for their height , but one has 10%BF and the other has 30% BF. One would look like that muscle-bound dude, and the other would look like the marshmallow fluff. But they'd be the same weight.

    ^^This is EXACTLY what skinny fat is.. high BMI in a healthy weight range for you...
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    "I was making sure to strength train and do cardio 4 days a week. I hit my goal! I ended with what people these days call skinny fat."

    what is your definition of skinny fat?

    "I do not think it means what you think it means." :)

    My thoughts exactly.
  • I guess to me "skinny fat" is more like someone who is skinny but eats junk all the time and never works out or doesn't take care of themselves or whatever. It irritates me because many times people look at others and just see fat or skinny without considering the details. Just for an example:

    Recently I went to my OBGYN and after discussing an issue I was having, she immediately focused on my weight. "Obviously that must be the problem..." Uh, okay. Then, 2 weeks later, my friend K goes to see the very same doctor for the same problem and she doesn't bring up weight or diet at all. The difference?

    I eat healthy 80-90% of the time (hey, no one's perfect) and I workout 5-6 days a week, usually for an hour or so at a time. I'm still overweight - losing, but still heavy right now.

    K weighs about 110 pounds soaking wet. However, she never works out, lives on a diet of McDonalds and Wendy's, and smokes a pack a day. She's what I would consider skinny fat and actually, she even agrees with me.

    Ok, off the soapbox - didn't mean to get ranty in the thread... I haven't had my coffee yet this morning :embarassed:
  • Travelfixer
    Travelfixer Posts: 137 Member
    I think your arm looks fantastic!
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member
    Congrats on your success, OP, but I don't think you're skinny-fat either. If you were, you'd have no real bicep and no chest definition. You may not have a body-builder's body but you have a fit body. And there's nothing wrong with that. Kudos.
  • watboy
    watboy Posts: 380 Member
    My bodyfat is 27% im 203 6 f 1
    So here is my take. I was 258 lbs 4 years ago. I was a heavy kid and most of my adult life. 4 years ago after going to vacation with a friend I had a hard time keeping up and was out of breathe just walking. I also had a hard time fitting in the airplane seat. My Dr had also told me my blood pressure was high, cholesterol levels were high and my bmi had me at morbidly obese. I decided after all those embarrasing moments on vacation to lose weight. I started going to the gym and doing cardio and weightlifting. I lost 65 lbs that year. I was making sure to strength train and do cardio 4 days a week. I hit my goal! I ended with what people these days call skinny fat. Guess what? I didnt care. Why ? Because my past 4 physicals have all been great. Every single one. My dr. Was so proud she actually did not charge for my visit! Imagine that! So Yeah i dont look like a male model but guess what? I rather be skinny fat than fat fat. I also rather be healthy and mobile than 258 on my way to heart disease. End opinion.

    really? what is your bodyfat %
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    My bodyfat is 27% im 203 6 f 1

    Yeah, that's not skinny fat. That's just a little bit overweight with a little excess body fat. Not much, but a little.

    If you were, say... 160 pounds and 27%, then you might be skinny fat.
  • watboy
    watboy Posts: 380 Member
    Okay so my weight is " normal" 203 bodyfat 27% but it has been going down,
    Too many people who have no clue what skinny fat really is claim to be or want to be skinny fat.

    If you really were skinny fat, your doctor wouldn't be congratulating you and you wouldn't be fit and healthy.

    Exactly. "Skinny fat" means that although you have a normal weight, your body fat percentage is typical of an overweight/obese person. Although you might look slim, your internal organs would tell a different story. If your physicals are all great – you're not skinny fat.
  • Lyra89
    Lyra89 Posts: 674 Member
    Skinny fat means you have very little muscle in comparison to your body fat, which comes from eating way too little calories and doing no exercise!

    Trust me, you're fine, and that is one awesome arm you got there! :smile: